Product Information

Wood and canvas canoes succeeded birch bark canoes, were the standard for the first half of the twentieth century and are preferred by outdoor enthusiasts. They have proven to be comfortable, durable, reliable, and versatile.

Many paddlers are familiar only with the manufactured plastic composite and metal canoes and are unfamiliar with hand-crafted wood and canvas canoes. The quiet of the wood/canvas canoe is unrivalled for not disturbing birds and animals and for enjoying the environment. The wood interior and traditionally caned seats are comfortable, especially in inclement conditions or prolonged time on the water. The flexible, living wood "works" with currents and waves and like the tree will sway and spring back rather than fighting the elements. The canvas finish incorporates silica and is extremely slippery and tough. People often are surprised at how the wood will flex and the hard, slippery surface will slide off an object rather than catching as do plastic and metal canoes. Additional information is available from The Wooden Canoe Heritage Association .

Tom Evans regularly builds 16-foot and 17-foot double-ended canoes. These canoes are all designed from decades of paddling experience and excel on lakes and rivers. They have a sharp entry and exit for ease of paddling and good tracking. They have a moderate rocker so that they track well but are easily maneuverable. The amidships is capacious to accommodate a generous load. The fullness above the water line of the bow and quarters gives good floatation in the ends so that they ride over waves rather than pencil into them.

Materials in Evans canoes are:

• Carefully selected white cedar ribs and planks.
• Straight grained white oak stems.
• Durable white ash gunwales, thwarts, decks and seats.
• Solid brass and bronze fasteners and fittings.
• Seats hand caned in traditional seat caning patterns.
• Canvas made from long cotton fibres, tightly spun, and tightly woven.
• Time Tested Oil based wood treatments and canvas finishes.

Traditional methods are used to handcraft Evans canoes.
Building a canoe takes a minimum of 100 hours of hands-on work and a minimum of six weeks time depending upon the weather and how long the various drying and curing steps require.

• A rigid form, which is a mirror image of the interior of the canoe, is fitted with the inwale (inside portion of the gunwale) and the stems.
• Tapered and rounded ribs are steam bent over the form and fastened to the inwale with ring nails.
• Time is required for the ribs to dry and stabilize.
• The planks are fastened to the ribs and stems.
• The canoe body is lifted off the form. Decks are installed and the ends of the canoe are completed.
• Wood preservatives and water repellents are used to treat the wooden canoe body.
• Canvas is carefully applied.
• Filler is rubbed into the weave of the canvas to make a smooth surface.
• Time is required for the surface to cure and stabilize.
• Marine enamel is applied with sanding between coats.
• The outwale is attached to complete the gunwale.
• Seat frames are completed by hand woven cane.
• Thwarts and seats are installed.
• Exposed wood is treated with oil/varnish mixture for durability and ease of upkeep.